Remodeling of a museum in Wichita, Kansas. Conceptual plans call for the remodel of a museum.

As part of the KBOR initiative to improve space utilization and address the deferred maintenance backlog on campus, WSU is proposing to consolidate two departments currently housed in separate buildings (Department of Geology (Geology Building) and Department of Anthropology (Neff Hall)) into one shared facility. The Geology Building (approx. 39,400 gsf) has been identified as a space with opportunities for more efficient use. Both buildings were built in the 1950s and are in need of building systems upgrades although the condition of the Geology Building (FCI .21) is better than the Neff Building (FCI .59). The project entails remodeling the Geology Building to co-locate the departments and address the existing deferred maintenance issues including adding a fire suppression system throughout the building. The Holmes Museum of Anthropology, run by the Department of Anthropology, contains artifacts that have more stringent temperature and humidity requirements than the typical department space and require specialized HVAC systems. It is proposed that an 10,000 gsf addition be built on the south side of the Geology Building to house the museum and associated support spaces and allow the specialized HVAC system to serve a limited portion of the building. Following the completion of work in the Geology Building, Neff Hall would be demolished and replaced by an expanded quad east of the Rhatigan Student Center. The anticipated cost of the project including construction, soft costs, and the demolition of Neff Hall and associated site work is approximately $18.5 million. The project will be funded by EBF funds and revenue bonds and construction will be phased to allow for building occupancy to be maintained throughout. The project is include in the Kansas Board of Regent's 2026 Capital Improvement Program (CIP). As of January 13, 2025, information regarding a design team and the contractor selection has not been disclosed. A firm timeline for construction has not been established. *Project information has been obtained through a public capital improvement plan (CIP). A CIP is a financial schedule for short- and long-range projects which is updated regularly. Information listed in the CIP often evolves based on funding availability and the project details, including timeline and value, are subject to change. The content management team will continue to pursue additional details as they become available.